DAA is Dante Arevalo Ang, who until his death on May 5, 2026 was Chairman Emeritus of The Manila Times. This month ten years ago The Manila Times carried the first Maritime Page, a dedicated maritime section mainstreaming the archipelagic circumstance of the Philippines into the consciousness of the Filipino public at large. This was made possible through the unceasing commitment of DAA, the one person who believed the Filipino deserves to know what it means to be born in a country of more than 7,000 islands and to harness the opportunities and benefits generated from the sea.
The concept of the Maritime Page started as an off-the-cup dialogue between DAA and myself when we met by chance at the then Pan Pacific restaurant. I was having lunch with Atty. Manuel Collado while DAA was having lunch at another table with former Labor secretary Ruben Torres. As it happened, we were briefly introduced to each other and somehow DAA was intrigued by the mention of my being a maritime advocate and queried how he could be one as well — a favorable break to request him to host a maritime page at The Manila Times. DAA readily said yes to that random proposal. A week after that brief encounter with DAA he phoned and invited me for lunch at his office even as I was sorting out how to prompt him for the start up of the maritime page. Over lunch we discussed the format and frequency of the maritime page. One thing we agreed on was for the articles to focus on the Philippine maritime industry. And so it was — after two weeks from that lunch at DAA’s office the Maritime Page was born.
The positive feedback on the Maritime Page confirms the earnest interest of many to know more about the industry which permeates Filipino life. The maritime page in fact has broadened the demand for up-to-date maritime news, on what lies ahead for an archipelago with the evolving digital world and the geopolitical conflicts that obviously impact on everyone’s life.
Whereas in the past only maritime disasters took to broadsheet news The Manila Times now carries articles that not only informs of the pressing issues affecting the industry but also revisits the days gone by and how policies and legislation of yore shaped the maritime trajectory of this archipelago. Remarks and reactions expressed by the readership/subscribers of the Maritime Page generally head towards an appreciation of the Philippine maritime industry both past, present and where it is heading.
The contribution of DAA to the maritime industry is pivotal in bringing the wider Filipino audience to better appreciate their maritime heritage and draw attention to the need to safeguard this natural endowment. His personal goal of sharing information is most appreciated by the maritime stakeholders.
Thank you for sharing my maritime advocacy. Godspeed Sir DAA.
